US8382143B2 - Motorized road vehicle for transporting passengers, capable of running alone and of being articulated to other vehicles to form a road train - Google Patents
Motorized road vehicle for transporting passengers, capable of running alone and of being articulated to other vehicles to form a road train Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US8382143B2 US8382143B2 US12/990,904 US99090409A US8382143B2 US 8382143 B2 US8382143 B2 US 8382143B2 US 99090409 A US99090409 A US 99090409A US 8382143 B2 US8382143 B2 US 8382143B2
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- road
- leading
- road vehicle
- vehicles
- following
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related, expires
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D47/00—Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers
- B62D47/02—Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers for large numbers of passengers, e.g. omnibus
- B62D47/025—Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers for large numbers of passengers, e.g. omnibus articulated buses with interconnecting passageway, e.g. bellows
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D53/00—Tractor-trailer combinations; Road trains
- B62D53/005—Combinations with at least three axles and comprising two or more articulated parts
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a motor-driven road vehicle for passenger transportation, either having an independent energy supply or connected to an energy network, which can be connected to other road vehicles of the same type to constitute a train set or road train formed of at least two vehicles articulated to each other.
- Each road vehicle of the invention comprises a door on each of its front surfaces, each door offering passenger access to the adjacent vehicle when the vehicles are grouped in a series or in a road train.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective of a single road module showing passengers using the lateral doors
- FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective showing the approach of a second road module prior to connection
- FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective showing two road vehicles of the same type connected to each other with minimal space between them;
- FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective with a cut-away showing a communicating door opening between vehicles
- FIG. 5 is a plane view of several road vehicles connected to one another by an exemplary mechanical connection in a straight line configuration
- FIG. 6 is a profile view showing a series of several vehicles connected to one another using the exemplary mechanical connection in FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 7 is a plane view of several road vehicles connected to one another in the same way configured for turning.
- the road vehicle according to the invention motorized and either independently supplied with energy or connected to an energy supply network as shown schematically in FIG. 1 , has a front portion 1 and a rear portion 2 forming a front surface 3 and a rear surface 4 .
- each surface 3 and 4 is equipped with at least one communicating door, 8 and 9 , respectively.
- the facing surfaces prefferably be curved, curvilinear, arc-shaped, or otherwise rounded since these shapes incur the least risk of interference on curves when vehicles 5 and 6 are hitched together.
- the motorized vehicle according to the invention also comprises front lateral doors 12 and rear lateral doors 13 allowing passengers to enter and exit.
- the motorized road vehicle according to the invention is capable of functioning alone and independently like a simple road vehicle for passenger transportation, but also in another mode called the group mode in which it is connected to other road vehicles forming a series or a road train 7 .
- this group mode only the head vehicle has a driver.
- the series or road train 7 one or more other vehicles may utilize their energy source at full power or at partial or reduced power. In theory the following vehicles have no driver.
- two successive vehicles 5 and 6 are articulated to each other forming an intermediate space 14 used as an passageway for travelers or passengers moving from one vehicle to another, called the intercommunicating gangway 15 .
- the motorized road vehicle according to the invention is predisposed for this second use by virtue of its split front and rear hitching devices.
- the front splittable connection and orientation elements 16 capable of being connected to complementary elements on the rear of another leading road vehicle so as to constitute a complete articulated splittable connection that is either mechanical or virtual in order to form a series or a road train 7 of at least two road vehicles: one a leading vehicle 5 and one a trailing vehicle 6 , in which only the lead vehicle 5 of the series has a driver.
- hitching elements 17 that can be connected together or can receive complementary splittable articulated connecting elements to connect it to another road vehicle and become its lead vehicle.
- the hitching devices at the front may consist of a drawbar 18 held below the front portion 1 of each vehicle and pivotably mounted on its chassis by a pivot center 19 cooperating with a directional assembly for setting the course of the following vehicle, acting on its directional assembly 20 so as to effect realignment of the connected vehicles after a curve and quasi-monotrace behavior by the trainling vehicle.
- Drawbar 18 is pivotably mounted below the front portion of the vehicle, preferably in median longitudinal position and near the axis of the front axle of the vehicle.
- the drawbar is mounted so that it remains within the perimeter of the vehicle's footprint on the ground.
- the devices for splitting the connection may consist of rapid coupling and uncoupling elements ensuring that the drawbar remains fixed in the direction of the median longitudinal axis of the leading road vehicle 5 , as in the situations shown in FIGS. 5 , 6 and 7 .
- the splitting means for the connection are those for the front portion of the road vehicle and those for the rear of it. They may be virtual type, that is, without physical connecting support, but operating through the use of sensors and connections through data-transmitting signals, all of which are controlled by a central processor.
- the splittable connector when joined, effects alignment of the vehicles and quasi-monotrace behavior by the following vehicle, but also and most importantly, ensures a short space between vehicles following one another, that is, between their opposite facing surfaces 3 and 4 when in a straight line and at least when stopped.
- the possible gap that is, the free space, that may exist at the lower portion of the intercommunicating gangway may be bridged by a rear projection such as projection 21 level with the thresholds of doors 8 and 9 and the floors of the adjacent vehicles with no change in incline or plane.
- This projection may be part of the rear of leading vehicle 5 as shown or conversely, part of the front of trailing vehicle 6 , or it may also be part of both.
- the invention also relates to an assembly formed of several road vehicles such as vehicles 5 and 6 that are identical or similar to those described above, joined to one another to form a series or a road train 7 with a short intercommunicating gangway 15 that is without protection such as a pneumatic connector, for example.
- This series or this train of road vehicles 7 connected to one another by a short intercommunicating gangway 15 is driven by a single driver located in the head vehicle.
Abstract
Description
Claims (16)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR0802518A FR2930926B1 (en) | 2008-05-06 | 2008-05-06 | MOTORIZED ROAD VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSPORT OF PASSENGERS, SUITABLE TO MOVE ALONE AND TO COME AND TO JOIN OTHER VEHICLES TO CONSTITUTE A ROAD TRAIN |
FR0802518 | 2008-05-06 | ||
FR08/02518 | 2008-05-06 | ||
PCT/FR2009/000527 WO2009141526A2 (en) | 2008-05-06 | 2009-05-05 | Motorized road vehicle for transporting passengers, capable of running alone and of being articulated to other vehicles to form a road train |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20110108334A1 US20110108334A1 (en) | 2011-05-12 |
US8382143B2 true US8382143B2 (en) | 2013-02-26 |
Family
ID=40158648
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/990,904 Expired - Fee Related US8382143B2 (en) | 2008-05-06 | 2009-05-05 | Motorized road vehicle for transporting passengers, capable of running alone and of being articulated to other vehicles to form a road train |
Country Status (13)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US8382143B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2282924B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2011519778A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20110017381A (en) |
CN (1) | CN102548836A (en) |
ES (1) | ES2641192T3 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2930926B1 (en) |
HU (1) | HUE036458T2 (en) |
LT (1) | LT2282924T (en) |
PL (1) | PL2282924T3 (en) |
PT (1) | PT2282924T (en) |
RU (1) | RU2492094C2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009141526A2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20180348792A1 (en) * | 2017-06-06 | 2018-12-06 | Walmart Apollo, Llc | Systems and methods for coupling autonomous ground vehicles delivering merchandise |
US20200216122A1 (en) * | 2019-01-08 | 2020-07-09 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Control device, an at least semi-automatically driving vehicle, a vehicle combination, and a method |
Families Citing this family (16)
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CN102582703B (en) * | 2012-02-28 | 2014-09-10 | 浙江吉利汽车研究院有限公司 | Combined automobile with butted tails |
DE202012002846U1 (en) | 2012-03-05 | 2012-07-20 | Deutsches Forschungszentrum für künstliche Intelligenz GmbH | Electric motor vehicle, in particular electric passenger motor vehicle, or hybrid electric motor vehicle, in particular Hybrideletro-Personen-Kraftfahrzeug, unddStraßenzug from the same |
CN103303376A (en) * | 2012-03-16 | 2013-09-18 | 范信龙 | Urban bus with carriage capable of being spliced |
DE102012106560A1 (en) * | 2012-07-19 | 2014-01-23 | Hubtex Maschinenbau Gmbh & Co. Kg | Transport system for long loads |
US9227639B1 (en) * | 2014-07-09 | 2016-01-05 | General Electric Company | System and method for decoupling a vehicle system |
KR102554526B1 (en) * | 2015-03-31 | 2023-07-11 | 겟플러스 에스.알.엘. | System and method for selectively coupling independent driving vehicles |
DE102016121095A1 (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-09 | A&A Logistik-Equipment GmbH & Co. KG | Routenzuganhänger |
CN106585741B (en) * | 2017-01-20 | 2019-04-26 | 河南理工大学 | A kind of biggish intercity bus of combined type of applicable volume of the flow of passengers fluctuation |
CN107351927B (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2020-01-07 | 河南科技大学 | Separable articulated urban bus |
KR101937595B1 (en) * | 2017-10-25 | 2019-01-11 | 김현국 | Driving system for autonomous vehicle |
WO2019168710A1 (en) * | 2018-03-02 | 2019-09-06 | Walmart Apollo, Llc | Systems and methods for delivering merchandise using autonomous ground vehicles |
CN108312793A (en) * | 2018-03-28 | 2018-07-24 | 多伦科技股份有限公司 | Bus monomer, split type bus system and its working method |
IL261325B (en) | 2018-08-22 | 2019-12-31 | Plasan Sasa Ltd | An articulated vehicle assembly and articulation system for use therein |
KR102336405B1 (en) * | 2018-12-12 | 2021-12-08 | 현대자동차주식회사 | Combinable and detachable vehicle and method for controlling the same |
CN110356481B (en) * | 2019-07-16 | 2021-01-01 | 常熟理工学院 | Transfer vehicle device for improving commuting efficiency of coach and control method thereof |
IL283075A (en) | 2021-05-10 | 2022-12-01 | Plasan Sasa Ltd | Dual use trailer vehicle |
Citations (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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FR712379A (en) | 1931-03-02 | 1931-10-01 | Large capacity coach on articulated chassis | |
US3246714A (en) * | 1962-03-08 | 1966-04-19 | Int Harvester Co | Articulated modular vehicle |
US3339658A (en) * | 1964-12-02 | 1967-09-05 | Caterpillar Tractor Co | Controls for earthmoving scrapers connected in tandem |
US4762191A (en) * | 1985-06-20 | 1988-08-09 | Man Nutzfahrzeuge Gmbh | Articulated vehicle selectively driven at two axles from two power sources |
EP0277305A1 (en) | 1987-01-09 | 1988-08-10 | Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft | Omnibus suited for a towing configuration |
EP0536433A1 (en) | 1991-10-08 | 1993-04-14 | Rupert Urstöger | Multi-part road vehicle, particularly for urban passenger traffic |
DE4411241A1 (en) | 1994-03-31 | 1995-10-05 | Fuhr Fred | Steering and control system for multi-unit, not track-bound, automatically separable and connectable train sets |
WO2000046050A1 (en) | 1999-02-02 | 2000-08-10 | John Kortleve | Coupling device |
JP2000247266A (en) | 1999-03-02 | 2000-09-12 | Tcm Corp | Traction vehicle |
WO2004014715A2 (en) | 2002-08-13 | 2004-02-19 | Mdi Motor Development International S.A. | Convenient, modular urban and suburban transport vehicle |
US20050104321A1 (en) * | 2003-11-15 | 2005-05-19 | Huebner Gmbh | Trailer unit with a trailer, specifically a double axle trailer |
DE102005035561A1 (en) | 2005-07-29 | 2007-03-29 | Hübner GmbH | Articulated vehicle e.g. articulated bus, has holding device for holding pods and articulated joint in coupling level at front end and for parallely aligning front side of pods to front side of rear end |
WO2007132121A1 (en) | 2006-05-17 | 2007-11-22 | Eurolum | Wheeled vehicle, hitching method, unhitching method, method for managing said vehicles and resulting train of vehicles |
EP1864834A1 (en) | 2006-06-09 | 2007-12-12 | HÜBNER GmbH | Articulated vehicle composed of several coupled vehicle sections |
FR2930928A1 (en) | 2008-05-06 | 2009-11-13 | Lohr Ind | DISSOCIABLE JOINT CONNECTION BETWEEN TWO SUCCESSIVE ROAD MODULES OF A ROAD TRAIN FORMED OF A PLURALITY OF ROAD MODULES, ROAD MODULES SO EQUIPPED AND TRAIN THUS FORMED. |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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SU1316871A1 (en) * | 1985-12-23 | 1987-06-15 | Белорусский технологический институт им.С.М.Кирова | Road train for carrying long cargo |
CN2066000U (en) * | 1989-07-13 | 1990-11-21 | 万西澄 | Highway row vehicle |
SU1735072A1 (en) * | 1990-01-19 | 1992-05-23 | Камское объединение по производству большегрузных автомобилей | Tailer-train coupler |
DE4002890C2 (en) * | 1990-02-01 | 1995-01-05 | Man Nutzfahrzeuge Ag | Articulated bus |
-
2008
- 2008-05-06 FR FR0802518A patent/FR2930926B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2009
- 2009-05-05 KR KR1020107027431A patent/KR20110017381A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2009-05-05 HU HUE09750007A patent/HUE036458T2/en unknown
- 2009-05-05 JP JP2011507965A patent/JP2011519778A/en active Pending
- 2009-05-05 WO PCT/FR2009/000527 patent/WO2009141526A2/en active Application Filing
- 2009-05-05 PT PT97500078T patent/PT2282924T/en unknown
- 2009-05-05 US US12/990,904 patent/US8382143B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-05-05 PL PL09750007T patent/PL2282924T3/en unknown
- 2009-05-05 CN CN2009801610473A patent/CN102548836A/en active Pending
- 2009-05-05 EP EP09750007.8A patent/EP2282924B1/en active Active
- 2009-05-05 LT LTEP09750007.8T patent/LT2282924T/en unknown
- 2009-05-05 RU RU2010149505/11A patent/RU2492094C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2009-05-05 ES ES09750007.8T patent/ES2641192T3/en active Active
Patent Citations (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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FR712379A (en) | 1931-03-02 | 1931-10-01 | Large capacity coach on articulated chassis | |
US3246714A (en) * | 1962-03-08 | 1966-04-19 | Int Harvester Co | Articulated modular vehicle |
US3339658A (en) * | 1964-12-02 | 1967-09-05 | Caterpillar Tractor Co | Controls for earthmoving scrapers connected in tandem |
US4762191A (en) * | 1985-06-20 | 1988-08-09 | Man Nutzfahrzeuge Gmbh | Articulated vehicle selectively driven at two axles from two power sources |
EP0277305A1 (en) | 1987-01-09 | 1988-08-10 | Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft | Omnibus suited for a towing configuration |
US4794867A (en) | 1987-01-09 | 1989-01-03 | Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft | Omnibus suitable for train formation |
EP0536433A1 (en) | 1991-10-08 | 1993-04-14 | Rupert Urstöger | Multi-part road vehicle, particularly for urban passenger traffic |
DE4411241A1 (en) | 1994-03-31 | 1995-10-05 | Fuhr Fred | Steering and control system for multi-unit, not track-bound, automatically separable and connectable train sets |
WO2000046050A1 (en) | 1999-02-02 | 2000-08-10 | John Kortleve | Coupling device |
JP2000247266A (en) | 1999-03-02 | 2000-09-12 | Tcm Corp | Traction vehicle |
WO2004014715A2 (en) | 2002-08-13 | 2004-02-19 | Mdi Motor Development International S.A. | Convenient, modular urban and suburban transport vehicle |
US20060170188A1 (en) | 2002-08-13 | 2006-08-03 | Guy Negre | Convenient, modular urban and suburban transport vehicle |
US20050104321A1 (en) * | 2003-11-15 | 2005-05-19 | Huebner Gmbh | Trailer unit with a trailer, specifically a double axle trailer |
DE102005035561A1 (en) | 2005-07-29 | 2007-03-29 | Hübner GmbH | Articulated vehicle e.g. articulated bus, has holding device for holding pods and articulated joint in coupling level at front end and for parallely aligning front side of pods to front side of rear end |
WO2007132121A1 (en) | 2006-05-17 | 2007-11-22 | Eurolum | Wheeled vehicle, hitching method, unhitching method, method for managing said vehicles and resulting train of vehicles |
US20100044998A1 (en) | 2006-05-17 | 2010-02-25 | Eurolum | Wheeled vehicle, hitching method, unhitching method, method for managing said vehicles and resulting train of vehicles |
EP1864834A1 (en) | 2006-06-09 | 2007-12-12 | HÜBNER GmbH | Articulated vehicle composed of several coupled vehicle sections |
US7658396B2 (en) | 2006-06-09 | 2010-02-09 | Hübner GmbH | Articulated vehicle made from several vehicle parts which are couplable together |
FR2930928A1 (en) | 2008-05-06 | 2009-11-13 | Lohr Ind | DISSOCIABLE JOINT CONNECTION BETWEEN TWO SUCCESSIVE ROAD MODULES OF A ROAD TRAIN FORMED OF A PLURALITY OF ROAD MODULES, ROAD MODULES SO EQUIPPED AND TRAIN THUS FORMED. |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20180348792A1 (en) * | 2017-06-06 | 2018-12-06 | Walmart Apollo, Llc | Systems and methods for coupling autonomous ground vehicles delivering merchandise |
US20200216122A1 (en) * | 2019-01-08 | 2020-07-09 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Control device, an at least semi-automatically driving vehicle, a vehicle combination, and a method |
US11584454B2 (en) * | 2019-01-08 | 2023-02-21 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Control device, an at least semi-automatically driving vehicle, a vehicle combination, and a method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN102548836A (en) | 2012-07-04 |
PT2282924T (en) | 2017-10-04 |
EP2282924B1 (en) | 2017-06-28 |
FR2930926B1 (en) | 2015-02-06 |
EP2282924A2 (en) | 2011-02-16 |
PL2282924T3 (en) | 2017-12-29 |
KR20110017381A (en) | 2011-02-21 |
LT2282924T (en) | 2017-10-10 |
FR2930926A1 (en) | 2009-11-13 |
RU2492094C2 (en) | 2013-09-10 |
US20110108334A1 (en) | 2011-05-12 |
RU2010149505A (en) | 2012-06-20 |
ES2641192T3 (en) | 2017-11-08 |
JP2011519778A (en) | 2011-07-14 |
HUE036458T2 (en) | 2018-07-30 |
WO2009141526A2 (en) | 2009-11-26 |
WO2009141526A3 (en) | 2010-01-21 |
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Owner name: LOHR INDUSTRIE, FRANCE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ANDRE, JEAN-LUC;REEL/FRAME:025768/0199 Effective date: 20101203 |
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